Apparatus for filling containers with fruit and vegetables



May 31,1932- H. w. NORGAARD APPARATUS FfiR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Filed Sept. so, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet y 1932- H. w NORGAARD 1,860,720

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Filed Sept. 50, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 31, 1932- I H. w. NORGAARD 1,860,720

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WTTH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Filed Sept. 50, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 & 9

H. W. NORGAARD May 31, 1932.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Filed Sept. 30, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 31, 1932 ruN'I'FE D- SJ"I AT-ES PATE f- GFRICE:

.iIPKAIJsUT-MNORGA'A'RD, 015? IOAKL'AN 1D, CALIFORNIA, 'ASSIGNOR TO CALIFORNIA 'FEeiBORYOBEAT-ION'yOESANrERl-LNCISGO; LOALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF El TiEYSV YORK ,AAB ARATUe-EQR :E'ILLING CONTAINERS WITH FRUIT ANDKVEGETABLESN J Ap icatioi eleaSe tember 30,1929. Seria1N0.-'396;1 13.

.This invention relates tor1eWand"n0ve1 3apperatfis=fdi fillingeentainers-euch as cans, 'ithfruits or vegetables?" The' 'apparatus is eharra'cteri zd its siIiip1icity-and* accuracy *ffiof-eperationl It isparticularlyadapterl-ifor t the ffuitsand yegetables.

.Fig. 4 is an-enlarged'side gramme-p rtl broken away and'extended so as tb illustrate the construetion' arid' means employed in driving the feed'rollers.

= Fig. 5 is =3, verticalen1arged*s'ectien takeii through aportion of tl'lefilling -n'iaehine,-said section being taken along plane '5 5 +i ndi- 1 c'ated in Fig.

l cient manner Without injuring the tissues of -In canning-fruits: and ve'get'ables it is desizable thattlr'e' :fiuits" Or -vegetables do "not veeme' in cbntact with any unsterili'z'eci *mate I Fig. 6 is an enlarged Vertical s'eetie'n taken alp'n'g line fi-Gbf Fig. 1; i 1 Fig; 7 is an enlargedx'zertic'al sectifitaken along 1ine-7'7 dfFig; '1",- showifigthe gate in elosed p'osition; v

Referring to Fig. I, the 'japparatlis prefer; ably comprises three"maj or 'p0rti0ns,='i1a-me- -1y,a conveyor for fe'edingeinpty cans tethe Q extent Within-the'eoflta-iner so as to make cerdevice capable of fill-ing c0nta'iners"- with iruits dnd yegeta-ble's' I and" compressing 'the;

fruits ov vegeta'bles Within the eent'ainer.

w-Afiother'bbject is to disclose and provide a 'ca'rried'eut i n-' a edntinuous and-effective mantop 6f the centainers,and compress the fruit w'ithiii the eontainerl th'ese" Operations being charge table. "The filling maehirie preferabl thereto by means of a miter gea"r-6 mellrited 0n ashaft? tdwhichpowern'i'ay be supplied from a suitablesource; as for ez'z'amjple, by

means" of a belt'fre m a' suitableprinie' mover passing over the pulley I 8 timo'iinted 0n the shaft 7.

j v The rotating head 2 is, prefeeebi pleaded with a' plurality of'spaeed 'aperture's"9 its periphery. Furthermore, the head 2 be provided With 'afclowfiwardly extending 'aeentinuousm'anner.

-Irv deserrbmg the 'mventlon; reference W111 illustrate en'e form' of inachineembraci'ng the inventlonf-It i's ti) beu'nderstood that m1 the particular construction-showfi therein.

I11 the appended drawings:

flange 10 at its 'Outer'edge and a similarafinulair-flange 11", the'opehirigs Q'fcOIhmIIriicating 'With the spate between the flanges 10" and 11,

as'moreelearlyindibated iii Figs, '5 6 Extending from the basel may bee-p111- rality" ofstationary arms or sr'l-pfp'brt's 12, said arms supporting acireular rack rring-fgear 13;" Extending between the'fiar figes loyand 11 are shafts l4 and l5 haiving oneavere'llers Figs 1 iea'planwiewbf the entire apparatus @Fig. '2 is a frOn-teleVation.

I. Fign' 8 is a vertieal axial section through the" filling nieehani'sm proper.

edi-n pairsfltowerdeachth 'r by meansfpfg suitable train ofge'ars; such aster example,

a gear 18 mounted upon a suitable pin 19 attached to the outer flange 10, said gear 18 being in operative contact with the ring gear 13.

The gear 18 preferably meshes with a gear 20 mounted upon shaft 14 and also with an idler gear 21 which is in operative contact with a gear 22 mounted upon the shaft 15.

Rotation of the, filling head 2, therefore, causes the gear 18 to revolve (inasmuch as the ring gear 13 is stationary), thereby imparting rotation to gears 20, 21 and 22 in the direction of the arrows indicated in Fig. 4. The rollers" 16 and 17, therefore, revolve toward each other, acting as feeding rollers through which material fed through the opening 9 above said pair of rollers is forced into a can or other receptacle or container positioned below said rollers.

- The base 1 of the device includes a circular cam 23 provided with a riser or high portion .24 at a point adjoining that portion of the The can receiving members 26 and their supporting rods 27aremaintained in spaced relation to each other and in substantial alinement with the apertures 9 in the rotating head 2 by means of a spider 30 mounted upon the vertical drive shaft 3, said spider slidably receiving the rods or arms27 of the can receiving member 26. The ends ofthe spider 30 are preferably provided with guides the riser 24 and the depression 25 in the cam.

31 adapted to maintain the rod 27 in averti- V calposition. -'It will thus be seen that rotation of shaft 3 will impart rotation to the spider'30, thereby causing the rods 27 supporting the can receiving members 26 to rotate the can receiving member 26, the rods 27 being supported by means of rollers 28 upon the edges of thecam 23 so that during rotationof said can receiving members they will move in a vertical plane, depending upon The pins 29 on which the rollers 28 are journaled extend 'through vertical slots formed in the guides 31 so that rotation of 7 shaft 27 and of the can receiving members 26 isprevented during-their travel around The members 12 also preferably support a serrated rack 32. said rack extending for only a portion of the distance around the shaft 3 and preferably from a point just in advance of the feed hopper 33 supported above the rotating head 2, to a point substantially diametrically opposed thereto. The can receiving members 26 are each preferably provided witha depending lug 34, said lug 34being adapted to contact with the rack 32,

thereby causing the can receiving member 26 to reciprocate repeatedly in a vertical plane during a portion of its travel. This repeated reciprocation in the vertical plane vibrates or jigs the can receiving member 26 for a purpose to be described later.

Near the discharge end of the filling machine means i are provided for removing excess material, such as for example, fruits or vegetables whichhave been placed inthe cans or containers 34 and carried by the can receiving members 26. Said means may include a shaft 35 mounted above the rotating head 2 and substantially at right angles to the shaft 3, said shaft 35 being supported in a suitable bearing 36. 1

The shaft 35 maybe driven in any suitable manner, as for example, by means of a miter gear 37 mounted upon a' shaft 38,. said miter gear 37 being in operative contact with the gear 5 mounted on shaft 3.v Rotation of shaft 38 may be imparted 'to shaft 35. by means of a belt 39 and suitable pulleys mounted on said shafts 38 and 35, respectively.

The shaft 35 is rotating brush 40 provided with flexible fingers, said fingersbeing preferably made of rubber or other easily cleaned and sterilized material having some flexibility; Thc fingers of the brush 40 are of sufiicient length so as to contact with the top of the filled can 34, any excess fruit or vegetables piled up in the can 34 being whipped up into a compartment 41 in communication with thefeeding hopper 33. Fruit adhering to the fingers of the brush 40,is removed therefrom by striking a scraper 42, saidscraper being inclined and leading to a chute 43. .Thus,'injured fruit or fruit which. has been injured ,by the action of the brush 40 is separately j discharged through the chute 43, whereas fruit which may be readily lifted from-the; top of can 34 is thrown back into compartment 41 which leads to the feed hopper 33 for jref-eeding into a subsequent can. v

w The rotating head 2 is providedwith a plurality of gates adapted to close the-apertures 9 if a can or other container 34 is not properly fed thereto. Preferably, the gate is pivotally connected to the loweredge of flange 11, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. The gate 44 is preferably actuated-by means of a. spring 45 adapted .to place said gate44 in closed position, indicated in Fig. 7-, said gate coming into contact with a gasket 46 positioned in the aperture 9.'said gasket, 46 being adjustable in internal diameterfby the substitution of suitable gaskets) to the diameter of the can being filled. r

Means are also provided for. opening said gates 44, said means includinga cam or cams 47 and 48. The position of these cams is indicated in Fig. 1. The cams 47 and'48 are stationary and are attached to the base'l in preferably prov-ided'with a 34 is in :any suitablemanner. Thegopera-tion of these cams is, as follows: IfT-We assume that a can is not upon the can receivingmember-26,

thenwhen the head 2reacl1esa position 1nd1 eat'edat A, Fig. 1, the. lever of the gate 44 will contact with the cam 47. Cam.47 is curvedupwardly.sothatas the rotation of --the head 2 'continues, the lever 50 will be raised upwardly, thereby opening the gate 44; After the gate 44 assumes a posit on such HS'lS sh-o'wn lnfFig. 6, that is, at maximum opening, the cam 48 Willpass in front of the length of time to permit a can from the feeding conveyor 51 to be admitted onto the can receiving member 26; The can receiving member 26 is still in lowered position, that is, the roller 28 1S rlding along the depression .25 of the 02111123. The cam 48 terminates at a point beyond the empty can inlet, thereby releasing the gate 44. If no can or container 34 is present on the can receiving vmember 26, then the gate '44 thus released will swing upwardly against the gasket 46 and close the aperture 9. if, however, a can or othercontainer 34? is in position on the can receiving member-26, then the gate 44 will rest thereagainstand as the can rethe can receiving member 26. 1

It is to be understood that the curved arm 50 attached tothe gate 44 more orless counterba-lances the wei ht of the ate and the spring 45is only sufficiently strong to close the gate 44, and is insuficienttoforce the gate 44 to close when a can or other container position on the can receiving member 26. I Anysuitable means for admitting or feeding empty cansto, the filling machineinay beemployed, although as shown in Fig. 1, a conveyor '51 may be used. Said conveyor 51 may comprise aplurality; of lugsor partitions 53 attached to a chain orother continuous member 54- passing around'sprockets or pulleys 55 and 56. The verticalpartitions, lugs or plates 53maytravel between walls 57.v 5 j, -j 2 I 1 'An' inlet 58 for empty cans may be provided, and; a guide 59 permits the'cans to be fed onto the can receiving members 26 of the filling machinepropein. :The conveyor 51 is preferably'driven by a gear 60 which is in operative contact'witha'lar e spur gear 61 mounted' on the shaft 3. The gear 61 may be,

as a matterofvfactyca'rried by the spider 30. In this mannerthe conveyor 51 is driven in 'timedvrelation with the filling head 2," so that said cans to a certain extent;

member 26 as it comes in position opposite the inlet guide 59. i

A star wheel 62 may be provided, said star wheel being mounted upon a shaft 63 driven by suitable gearing from the shaft 3. The

star wheel 62 may belprovidedwith a plurality of spaced semi-circulardepressions or sockets 64 adapted to receive the cans 34 while they are on the can receiving member 26, and to center them so that the rising of the can receiving member 26 will force said cans into device; said device may comprise a rotating table 65 mounted upona suitable shaft 66, said shaft being driven by means of a gear 67 from the spur gear 61 or in any other suitable manner. 7 The shaft 66 may be supported in a suitable bearing as by means of the support 68 attached to the base 1 of the filling machine. Guides 69-direc-t cans whichhave been filled, vibrated and had the excess material removed therefrom, from the rotating filling machine ontothe rotating discharge table 655 a The upper end of shaft66 may carry a spider 70 provided with a plurality of spring actuated presseramembers '71 pivotally connected to the spider70. The discharge table 65 may also be provided with a plurality of sockets or guides 72 adapted to receive the filled cans from the filling table, and to center them under the presser members 71.

The springs 'onsaid'pedals or presser members'71 are adapted to maintain the said presser members in raised positionxas indicated in Fig.2 at 71. A shoe 73 is preferably positioned above the normal: level of cans being fed to the discharge table-65, said shoe being adapted to contactwith the upper surfaces of the pedal or presser members 7 1 and to force said'pres'ser members duringrotation of the J discharge table 65 and shaft 66 under said .shoe 73. In this manner the pedals or presser members71 are forced down into the filled cans, compressingthe fruitor vegetables in presser members 71 are released by the shoe 73 they are raised out of the can by action of the springs mentioned heretofore, thereby permitting the cans to be discharged from thetable 65. I i i i l shownin Fig. 1, the cans may be removed from the discharge table 65 by means of guides 74 and a runway 75 leadingto' a suitable-capping or sealing machine. It is to be understood thatthe shoe 73 may be supported in any suitable manner or as indicated When the an empty canis fed'to each can receiving contact with the gasket 46 within the apertrue 9 formed in the rotating head2.

l Positioned in operative relation with-the filling machine proper may be a compressing head.

' in fruit. 2 V

{skilledin the art. Empty cans are, fed by conveyor 51 to the filling machine, conveyor 51 being driven in timed relation with the rotation of the filling machine, thereby supplying an empty can to each of the can receiving members 26 as it reaches a position opposite the inlet guides 59.

The can receiving members then move upwardly by reason of the rise 24 in the cam-23, thereby pressing the upper edge of the can in contact with the gasket 46. After the can has been raised into this position, the can and -canireceiving member 26 pass under hopper 33 from whlch sliced fruits, vegetables and the like are supplied and fed to the can 34 by means of the rollers 16 and 17, said rollers rotating in pairs in opposed directions so as to force the fruit or vegetables into the can.

' Simultaneously, the cans are vibrated, shaken 'or otherwise jolted as by means of the vibrating rack 32, so as to compact the fruit or vegetables in the can. The cans are then passed under the brush 40 where any excess fruit remaining on the top of the can is removed, uninjured fruit or fruit easily re- 'moved. being thrown by means of the brush 40 into the chute or hopper 41" leading back to hopper 33. The cans are then discharged upon the discharge table 65, being guided upon said table by means of the guides 69. Simultaneously, the can receiving member 26 I is dropped. On the discharge table the fruit is compacted within the can and then sent to the capping or sealing machine, which is not shown. It is to be-understood that the discharge table is driven in timed relation with the filling machine so as to be able to takeca're of and handle all cans discharged by the filling machine. It has been found thatthemethod described hereinabove permitsa larger quantity of fruit or vegetables to be packed into cans thanby means of any other known prior method. The apparatus disclosed hereinabove is simple in operation and is capable of handling extremely large quaneludes the gate member 44. These gate members close the openings in the-filling head 2,

after the cans have been discharged upon the discharge table and after the can receiving member has passed the point at which an empty can is normally placed upon the can receiving memberby the conveyor 51. In this manner, when a can receiving member 26 not carrying a can or containerpasses under a hopper 33, fruit will not be discharged from the hopper through the filling This insures cleanliness and a saving It is to be understood that spaces between apertures 9 are suitably closed so asto prevent the discharge of fruit, and that the gaskets or rings 46 are readily detachable so as to accommodate cans of various diameter. Furthermore, the vertical'motion of the can receiving members 26 may be readily adjusted by changing the position of the pin 29 in the rod 27 Although a particular form of this invention has been described in detail, it is to be understood that numerous changes and'modifications may be made therein in accordance with particular conditions encountered and with results desired. All such changes and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for filling containers with fruits or vegetables, the combination of a filling table including a stationary base, a filling head rotatably mounted on said base, said head being provided with spaced apertures in its periphery, can receiving mem bers positioned beneath said head and in alinement with said apertures, means for rotating the head and can receiving members in unison, means for vibrating said can receiving members during a-portion of their travel, pairs of feed rollers carried by said head beneath each of said apertures, means for rotating said rollers during rotation of said head. i

2. In an apparatus for filling containers with fruits or vegetables, the combination of a filling table including a stationary base, a filling head rotatably mounted on said base, said head being provided with spaced apertures in its periphery, can receiving members positioned beneath said head and in alinement with said apertures, means for; rotating the head and can receiving members in unison, means for vibrating said can receiving members during a portion of their travel, pairs of feed rollers carried by said head beneath each of said apertures, means for rotating said rollers during rotation of said head, and means for removing excess material from cans at one portion of the travel of said head and can receiving members.

3. In an apparatus for filling containers with fruits or vegetables, the combination of a filling table including a stationary base, a filling head rotatably mounted on said base, said head being provided with spaced apertures in its periphery, can receiving members positioned beneath said head and in alinement with said apertures, means for rotating the head and can receiving members in unison, means for vibrating .said can receiving members during a portion of their travel, pairs of feed rollers carried by said head beneath each of said apertures, means for rotating said rollers during rotation of said head, a' discharge table rotatably mounted in m nates i fi lniiga ead-1-rpttably1im un e ionsa dih se,

insil sd btatablr .m un edso i s id b sses operatiye relationmwithi ,saidi: fillinguhead,,iavibnatingsaid ean readying memhersdqringm means lion .rotating;saidadiseharge -tab1 e m1 i a portlon 10f ,thelnitravel, meansnfimnralsmg a:

timed relati nwithsaidihead meansipndisi charging ;gans,.2fr0m said headionto sa dd sew c harge-ltable andq means carnled jbyisaidl. dds'tsj charge: table TIEOIi pre$SiIlguthQ;,COI1tQIl-tS. of cansduring rotationthereoi; r

4 ,In ianfiapparatusa fon: fillingueontainelis a with (fruits 501': Megetablesythe enmbinttmm qf a3 filling table includingaaj stationary base a filling head ,rotatably mounted nisaid base; saidheadbeing-presided \withsspaced, apes: tures in its periphery, can receivingi nemlyersa positioned; ,beneath saidr head kandi in ahnem mentwith said apertures;meansrforvrotatmg;f the head'iandecanireceiying; members in lime son, means ion-vibrating saidf canareceivling members during a :portion. iof then travel, pairsiofiefeed rollerscarried by said head beau neath leaehiof said apertures, meansfq r tate in g-isaid rollers. dnringrrotation of semi head, meansifonaremoying. excess. materi l ii' lm 1; cans at one portion of the travel of said head, and can recei ing m mb s-,a d sch rge table rotatably m unted in operatin i e a onzw t i 1- said; fil in gh aiim a s for .m ting sa d di i; charge rtable i imed rela n w th s d hea means ,fo t disch rgi ge nsri mj sa d hea ontoesai dischargetahla and; ea e n y aid-discharge table f rp essmg t e n te ts-9f ansid ing-rota ionvt ere zl cang pp natusi ni g ta n rs-i wi hdr itso m getabl th ircombination 9 a fillingqt ble i clu ing s t on ry base, a

idah adab i igap evid diw thzsp ced ap r: res in it .er phsryve ni ieceiv nga embe s. 1 positioned geneath sa-i 'd ead andjmahn l nt w th-s dpen ure emeans io in at ngi mean forwibra i gi s c rec 'vi g,;

mber d in ha p st-i n. 0 Et e av l, i p irsnf feedirofies a r d by aid h db n. heach1oisa dapstt wes, m ansf rtates g sa d. r ll r .d ringsotat qn of s id. h ad.

meansf rirem r ng excs sma em trom;

siat n porti i vt eitravel efsa rd. he d; dcanire iv grmembe is aid means seem-i p sing a brush ro tably monnte i eve s i .id s harge 'i bl at b. unte iin ope at a E Ia iQn-W t-h' id a ansion ta g s d 1 d hargeat ble n; edation -Wi hsa d h adand c n-.1 acts.- a.

drme nsiqa zied hyis idrt le fpnp essinga nten s Q s nsduringa p rtion 0f their @I i-a i appa atus; f sa ing; QQtaE AeT with fruit or vegetables, thegpo nbinat pn pfya;

lsn ble.- slud ngi a s atiQnary-i ba is,

aid ith; spaced eadlgeing protride V d samba prtlii im a slf m tet sgi theili a ia shes amen ss means i said gate means .at

tures scan receiving memberslapositioned v.li

earriedrby said head and pivotedori hgo'i' iz'd neans initim 'ed relationwithsaid Head a can,reeelvmg.imeanstirneans fonldiseharging 2 said discharge-table and;fcangfeedirrg means r 8. :In anrapparatusefor filling-eontainiersg gvith :fruits: or vegetables; theleombination of 4: 21 filling. table's-including a statiqna' ij bas'e .rotatiodofsaidheada 9. :In': an. apparatus for filling containers 1 w and, lowering said tan Jreeeivihgimemhersiat predetermined; poin s i in itheirntraveli; gated:

cam meansiearried bgyi'said base vfoirbpe ning' 7 av predetermined point itl 7; *Incan -.apparatus fon containers!!! with fruits 1 pr vegetables; the icombihatio zi a filling table-vincludingra statienary base, iillingjieadwrotatably inelinted 9n sa idaba'se,

said rheadheing provided with spaeed'ape neath isaid headaandr in alinm ent witlr said ii apertures; means zfon rotatingithe ihead and can ;rece1vingr members m :uniso'n lowering said can.rreceiving membei set -pre C determinedi'pointsin theintravel gate In'ea tal axes. fornclosingvsaid ap feedlngaeans onto, said zca bers,. rmeans LfOLwdIiMlIlgsaid: can -feedin cans from said can reeeiving-members; afid cam means .carriedubyi said gate means i dumnghtheirtravel between a filhimg head rbtatablyi mounted von said tamembers. positioned beneath said head and-i alinement with said :aipertu-res,-means 61 113- 405% said Jean receiving members during pd'rtion 12110:

of theirtravel, pairs df-fee'd i=0L1eris-ear1j;i ed v saidheadbeneath eachfqf saidapertu re and means for rotatingisaid:rollens duging i iglgzt e h adeandean receivinglmembens n V 7 1n nnison, means, ,forarais ng iand lowering; said;gar reee v ng membgrsat@redetuagmlfiedan??? p n s ril t eir Jtravsl meansix-rfdnlyi rating... a dleansres iri 'r e hersduring p t i of theiig trayelr, pairs io'f feed roll-ens camiied it by said h ad-b nea h: d sh of s idiapertaresgi nj receiving memfiw said rbaseion-opening an-gt i fiatillges idar lless id ringi rdtawlm q,

tion oi said head, a discharge table rotatably mounted in operative relation with said fill-' ing head, means for rotating said discharge table in; timedrelation with said head,means i-ordischarging cans fromsaid head onto said discharge table, and means carried by said discharge table for pressing the contents of cans during .movement thereof.

10. In an apparatus for filling containers 16 with fruits or vegetables, the combination of a filling. table including a stationary base, a filling head rotatably mounted on said base, saidhead being provided with spaced apertures in its periphery, can receivingmembers positiohedbeneath said head and in alinement with said apertures, means for rotating the head and can recelvlng members in uni son, means for, vibrating said can receiving:

members during a portion of their travel,

pairsfof feed rollers carried by said head heneath eachof said apertures, means for rotating said rollers during rotation of said head, a discharge table rotatably mounted in operative relation with said head, means forroat'ating said discharge table in timed relation with s'aid'head, and camactuated' means carried by said discharge table vfor pressing the contents of cans-uduring a" portion of i their travelon said table.

a0 11, Inan apparatus for filling containers with'fruits or vegetables, the combination of a filling table including astationary base, a filling head rotatably mounted on said base, said head being provided with spaced aper- 3 3tures in its periphery, can receiving membersapositioned beneath said head and inalinement with said apertures, means for rotatingnthe-head' and can receiving members.

in unison, horizontally pivoted, gate means Qric'arried, by said rotating head for closing said apertures, .cam'nieans carried by said base fOIHOPGIllIIg said gate means at a predetermined point in their travel, means for vibrating said can receiving members during a por- ;.tion of their travel, pairs of feed rollers carried by said-head beneath each of said apertures, and means for rotating said rollers during rotation. of said head.- 7

12.- In an apparatus for filling containers eel-With fruits or vegetables, the combination of a filling table including a stationary base, a fillingheadrotatably mounted on saidbase, said head being provided with spaced apers tures inits periphery, can receiving memberslifi ipositionedbeneathsaid head and in alinement with said apertures, horizontally pivoted gate means-carried by'sai d rotating head beneath-*each of said apertures for closing said apertures, cam means carried by said base for opening said gate means at aprede- 6 travel, pairs of feed rollers'lcarried by said head beneath I each at said apertures, eans I for rotating said rollers during "rotationof said head, a discharge-table rotatably mounted in operative relation with s'aidfiilling head, means for rotating said discharge table in timed relation with saidhead, means for discharging cans from said head onto said dis charge table, and means carried by said discharge table for pressing the contents of cans during movement thereof on said table.

13. In an apparatus for-filling containers withfruits or vegetables, the combinationof y a filling table including astationary base, a

filling head rotatably mounted on' said base, said head being provided with spaced apertures in its periphery, pairs of feed rollers carried by said head beneath each ofrsaid apertures, means for rotating said I rollers during rotation of said head, can receiving members positioned beneathsaid'head and in alinement with said apertures,and means for rotating the head and can receiving members in unison. 1

14. In'an apparatus for filling containers with fruits or vegetables,the combination of a filling table including a stationary base, a

filling head rotatably'mounted on said base,

said head being provided with spaced apertures in its periphery, a feeding hopper positioned above said'head, pairs of feed rollers carriedby said head beneath each of said apertures, means for "rotating said rollers; during rotation of said head, the rollers of each pair rotating toward each other, can

receiving members positioned beneath said head and in alinement with saidapertures,

and means for rotating the head and can 're-' ceiving members in unison. 15. In an apparatus for with fruits or vegetables,the combination of a filling table including a stationary base, a

filling containers ,o

filling head rotatably -mounted Zo'n said base,

said head being provided with spaced apertures in its periphery, a feeding hopper posi I tioned above said filling table, a plurality of spaced can receiving members mounted on said table and beneath said filling hopper, means for rotating the head and'c'a'n receiving members in unison, means for raisingand lowerlngsa'ld can recelving members at predeterminedpoints in theirtravel, a horizontally pivoted g r ied by 'saidjrotating head beneath each of said apertures, said'gatg being adapted to close said apertures'when a can is not posltioned on said can receiving means, and cam means carried by said base for openlng said gates at a predetermined.

point in their travel."

fim ppa s/for fining coata'inerf' Wlth frults'or Vegetables, the combinationof a filling table including a stationarybase,

a filling head rotatably mounted on said base,

said head being'provided with spaced aper-j tures in its periphery, a feeding hopper positimed above Said fillingtable, a p urality ou spaced can receiving members mounted on said table and beneath said filling head, means for rotating the head and can receiving meming said gates during their travel between said discharge table and can feeding means, said gate means being adapted to be restrained from closing by contact with means on said i can receiving means.

17. In an apparatus for filling containers with fruits or vegetables, the combination of a filling table including a stationary base, a filling head rotatably mounted on said base, said head being provided with spaced apertures in its periphery, a feeding hopper positioned above said filling table, a plurality of spaced can receiving members mounted on said table and beneath said filling head, means for rotating the head and can receiving members in unison, means for feeding cans onto said can receiving members, a discharge table rotatably mounted in operative relation'with said head, means for lowering said can receiving members at the portion of their travel between said discharge table and can feeding means, and for raising said can receiving members at other portions of their travel, a horizontally pivoted gate carried by said rotating head beneath each of said apertures, cam means carried by said base for opening said gates during their travel between, said discharge table and can feeding means, said gate means being adapted to be restrained from closing by contact with means on said can receiving means and means carried by said discharge table for pressing the contents of cans during movement thereof.

Signed at San Jose, California, this 19th day of September, 1929.

HAL W. NORGAARD. 

